McDonald's All-Americans

As four teams prep for the Final Four this weekend, the remaining 300+ teams are already thinking about next season. And last night, the McDonald's All-American Game gave us a preview of some of the top incoming players for 2014-2015. Below are my impressions of each player that participated:

East Team

Cliff Alexander - Impressive physical talent, but sometimes the effort didn't match the potential. He was playing with a wrapped hand, but I wish he would have used his body to physically dominate inside, and focus a bit more on rebounding. But, it was an all-star game, so I don't blame him. He will play a big role for Kansas next year, and will likely be a one and done player.

James Blackmon Jr. - Was most impressive in the 3-point contest a couple days ago, as he displayed a tremendous shooting touch. In the actual game, he forced some shots early, never got going from distance, but showed a great mid-range game and played well in the second half. Will be a star at IU and give them some much needed scoring punch.

Justin Jackson - The game's leading scorer did it by making effort and hustle plays. He didn't blow me away with athleticism or anything like that, but had a knack for being around the basketball. He didn't put up a ton of shots from the perimeter, but seems to have a nice stroke when he did. Will be a "glue guy" for UNC and his shooting will be valuable for a team that didn't have much of it this season.

Tyus Jones - Seemed to fly under the radar for most of the game but made some solid plays. Is the type of point guard that makes others better. Will likely back up Quinn Cook in his first year at Duke, but will be a key figure off the bench. He'll take over starting duties as a sophomore.

Kevin Looney - Looney was active in the first half last night, and seemed to attack the offensive glass hard. I was wondering why he didn't get more time in the second half. I think his length and athleticism will be welcome in UCLA. He and Tony Parker will be a load to handle down low.

Theo Pinson - Pinson displayed insane athletic ability, but was still a little raw offensively. If he can improve his perimeter jumpshot, the sky is the limit. Will bring an edge with him to UNC, especially on the defensive end.

D'Angelo Russell - This Ohio State commit would have been very helpful to the Buckeyes this season.  He is a tremendous scorer, and can get it done in a variety of ways. I think he'll lead OSU in scoring as a freshman, be named the Big Ten freshman of the year, and he'll go pro after one season.

Karl-Anthony Towns - The size and potential is there for Towns, but he is very raw. I would have said the same thing about Nerlens Noel and Willie Cauley-Stein at this stage, so expect a similar impact. If that doesn't fire up Kentucky fans, this will: I also would have said the same thing about Joel Embiid at that stage.

Melo Trimble - Very quiet night and didn't get much PT, so I really can't judge him well. It's got to excite Maryland fans though that a McDonald's guy chose to come there. Don't sleep on the Terrapins in the new Big Ten.

Myles Turner - One of the big storylines last night was this guy... He's #2 overall and is the only guy of the bunch that hasn't committed anywhere. He will help immediately at any school, as he's got a great skillset for such a big guy. On the team's first possession, he fired up a deep 3 and hit it. I was instantly sold.

Isaiah Whitehead - Also didn't get much PT, but in the first half I saw swagger, athletic ability, and the willingness to attack and score. And for a school like Seton Hall, he'll be big time.

Justice Winslow - Another Duke commit that is easily overshadowed. The other three commits stood out but he didn't. That's not to say he won't have an impact, but if Jabari Parker returns to school (which is currently the rumor), he may be the odd man out (in terms of consistent playing time).

West

Grayson Allen - Showed surprising athletic ability by winning the slam dunk contest earlier in the week. Not bad for a guy recruited as a shooter. Didn't think he used his athleticism enough in the game, but I think the potential is there for him to be a great bench scorer for Duke next season.

Joel Berry II - Another point guard that simply made others around him better. Ten assists is pretty great for a game all about getting your own. Because Marcus Paige is returning, he'll likely start as a bench player for UNC, but he'll still have an impact.

Devin Booker - Not as highly recruited as other typical Kentucky players, Booker will give Coach Cal a shooter from day 1. He made two triples last night, which tied for the most in the game.

Stanley Johnson - I loved his game and he was one of my favorite players last night. His motor is high on both ends, and he seems to possess some polish from the perimeter for a 6-7 small forward. I think he'll be even more productive than Aaron Gordon was as a freshman. Probably a one and done player.

Trey Lyles - Lyles comes off to me as a fundamentally sound player that will win you a lot of basketball games. He reminds me of Tim Duncan in so many ways (younger version obviously). That may be high praise, but the skills are there.

Emmanuel Mudiay - I thought he was the best guard of the night. His height gives him a big advantage as a point guard. He will give SMU a star and will lead them to the tourney (they got screwed this season). He is a definite one and done.

Jahlil Okafor - To me, lived up to the billing as the #1 player. His size stood out, but he actually knows how to use it. He was physical and sought out contact, rare for a player his age. I was impressed by his footwork as his offensive game seemed polished. I think he'll star at Duke and is the frontrunner for #1 in the draft in 2015 (unless Jabari Parker returns).

Kelly Oubre Jr. - Athletic enough to replace Wiggins at Kansas, but just isn't as good yet. He wasn't as solid all-around as some of the other players last night, but he's going to be a productive college player.

Reid Travis - Built like a man. Will step in for Dwight Powell at Stanford and keep them successful. May need a little polish, but he can physically dominate a lot of college players right now.

Tyler Ulis - Due to his size, it may take a little time to adjust to college. But overall, his vision was unparalleled last night and he can set up his teammates well. Won't be a one and done for Kentucky, but that could serve the Wildcats well in years to come.

Rashad Vaughn - Smooth scorer that was productive last night, even scored quietly at times. Will instantly put up numbers at UNLV, especially since they just lost a key scorer from this season.

Thomas Welsh - Another big man that will be important for UCLA, but not sure if he played last night... because I don't remember him.

My final thoughts are that Duke fans should be excited. Their class is loaded. Kentucky's is solid too, but not good enough to win a National Title if they lose everyone from this year's squad. Kansas has some solid replacements coming in for Wiggins and Embiid, and they'll likely remain the favorite in the Big 12. The wildcard still is Myles Turner. He'd be a big addition to any team and could thrust a team like SMU or Texas into Final Four discussion with a commitment.

By: The Sports Guys